What's next
Even if it looks like it, we haven't given up. We will probably be around for a very long time, as we are very convinced of our product.
However, the product has changed. The distribution, as you knew it, will no longer be continued.
The composition of an iron-on picture as you knew it until now consists to a very large extent in the development of the picture. Sure, you can download a file somewhere, digitise it, cut it and sell it, but then the real problems arise, namely the legal ones. Almost all PICS available on the free market are legally protected, so that they cannot be sold commercially. We are forced to develop the motifs ourselves, which we are very happy to do.
There are many things to consider in commercial development. Firstly, the iron-on motif must be recognisable as such, which means that if we want to depict a tree, it shouldn't be an upside-down mop. Then there is the legal question. Is the motif protected in any way? Of course the apple as a food object is not protected, but the apple bitten into at a certain point is. In this case, it depends on how the apple is travelled to and from which side it is bitten into, without this leading to confusion or leading to a computer trademark. Once these questions have been clarified, which in our eyes are still among the simplest, it is important to design the object in such a way that it can be cut and, if plottable, it must also adhere to almost all textiles. With an apple, there are no major problems in this area, but there are motifs such as carriages or filigree objects where this plays a major role.
You benefit from our many years of experience in the development of iron-on motifs.
Over the years, many of our customers have purchased their own small "home" plotter to produce their own motifs as required. This is exactly where we come into play again. The creation of cut files requires a bit of software know-how, which can run into the thousands, the experience to deal with it accordingly and, as already mentioned, the experience to be able to develop the motifs in the first place.
It took us a very long time to realise that the market had changed. We were often asked whether we would sell our motifs as such, so that we could cut them ourselves in small quantities at home. We have now shed our arrogance and offer the motifs as downloadable files.
In the near future, we will also offer customisable motifs, if only because the creation of such a cutable file requires a repertoire of software, as already mentioned, including the experience to deal with it in this area.
The area of iron-on pictures will now mainly extend to the DIY sector. In the area of clubs or companies, we will continue to provide the service of having the iron-on decals produced by us. However, this will relate to a larger number of items that are not or will not be available in the online shop.
In such cases, the production times for design, cutting, processing and final inspection, packaging and dispatch can be better calculated. The customer then has a better overview of when he can expect the goods, as the full capacity is then available to him.
What happens next:
Over the last 15 months, we have had several shops on sales platforms closed. This was partly due to ignorance and partly due to envy. We have been regularly forced to remove articles by dubious people posing as a law firm. When we asked for certain documents to prove this, we never heard from them again. It was easier for them on the sales platforms, as a so-called AI decides on such cases immediately, and once you have familiarised yourself with the questionnaire, you can quickly get through and outwit them.
However, that was only a small part of the problem we had with our products. I don't want to badmouth our customers now, 99% of them are nice, courteous, polite and satisfied, but there were always the kind of customers for whom the goods had basically arrived, especially those who order on a Friday evening, ask at midday on Saturday when it will be dispatched because they need it urgently, and although the order was dispatched on Monday, cause stress again on Tuesday and ask where the goods are. This type of customer usually received the order twice, maybe even received it, and we were able to write it down, after the delivery deadlines specified by the platforms, they never received the goods and demanded, and also got the money back from the AI immediately.
We therefore decided to move the business to a channel that only offers download items.
Other channels, which are not mentioned in this case because they do not belong here, we are expanding our programme to include textile design, as well as foils and plotter accessories.
We are leaving this area with a tear in our eyes, as we have had a lot of fun working with and for our customers, but we are not gone, at least not in the way many people think.
Months ago we decided to plan and start working on the new branch and it has been in existence for a good 4 months now. So for an appeal to all customers who continue to trust us, we are not going away, we will continue and if you want it, we will see you again .
Status 30 September 2024